Wrench device



Jan. 25, 1966 YOHE 3,230,800

WRENCH DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 //v VENTOP ERA/57 VOH United States Patent 3,230,800 WRENCH DEVICE Ernest Yohe, 3636 Kingman Blvd, Des Moines, Iowa Filed Get. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,905 3 Claims. (Cl. 81-66) This invention relates to a wrench device and particularly to a wrench employing a chain for turning nuts, bolts, pipes, and the like.

The chain wrench of this invention enables the user to reach out of the way work areas and by operation of the handle or driver member tighten the chain means about the pipe or the like and then tighten or loosen the pipe by further rotation of the driver member. Conventional wrenches heretofore could not accomplish these functions.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a tool which is adapted to embrace a pipe or the like and automatically increase the gripping action on the pipe as it is turned.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool wherein an endless chain has its ends connected by a wheel member and the wheel member is rotated along the length of the chain by a force applied along the longitudinal axis of the wheel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench including a wheel member which is separably connected at one of its ends along its longitudinal axis to a driver member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench including a Wheel member having friction means on the outer surface for engagement with the pipe or the like being turned.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench having a driver member connected to a wheel at one of its ends wherein the driver may be pivoted to any convenient position for manually turning a pipe or the like clamped by the wrench.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench having a wheel member connecting the ends of the chain wherein the free end of the chain may be stored within the wheel member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench having a wheel member capable of being quickly secured and released from the chain.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain wrench having conventional chain links wherein a slot in a wheel member is adapted to positively engage a selected link intermediate its enlarged end portions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chain Wrench having a socket member for interconnecting the ends of the chain wherein the socket member may be turned by a conventional socket wrench driver member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wrench device which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chain wrench of this invention with the driver member pivoted at a right angle to the socket member interconnecting the ends of the chain which embraces a pipe like object;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a conduit or pipe-like member with the chain wrench secured thereon and in particular showing two possible positions with which the driver may be placed for turning the socket member and in turn the conduit or the like;

FIG. 3 is a top fragmentary view of the socket member with its outer peripheral serrations bearing against the outer side of a conduit or the like;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the socket member wherein several links at the free end of the chain are temporarily stored within the hollow portion of the socket member;

FIG. 5 is another fragmentary top plan view of the socket member showing an alternative manner of accommodating the free end of the chain by extending it outwardly of the socket member through a slot formed therein; and

P16. 6 is a bottom plan view of the chain wrench mounted on an automobile oil filter and having a ratchet handle member extending across the bottom end of the oil filter.

The chain wrench of this invention referred to gen.- erally by the reference number 10 in FIG. 1 is comprised of three principal parts. A chain 12 is interconnected at its ends by socket member 14 which is separably connected to a driver member 16.

The chain 12 is of the conventional type used on bicycles or the like and includes links 18, each of which include side elements 20. The ends 22 (FIG. 3) of each side element 20 are rounded and connected by an intermediate portion 24 having concave side edges 26. The side elements 20 may be interconnected by pins 28 which are riveted thereto or by pins 30 which are removable by first removing the cotter key 32. By this arrangement any desired length of chain may be quickly provided.

The socket member 14 is similar to the socket member of a socket wrench assembly by the fact that it is cylindrical with a chamber 34 formed therein which in turn is in communication with an opening 36 in the bottom Wall 38 of the socket member. Modifications to the socket member include providing a pair of diametrically opposed slots 40 and 42 formed in the sidewall parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket member. The outer face of the socket sidewall has longitudinal uniformly spaced serrations 44 formed therein.

The driver 16 is of the conventional socket wrench driver type having a stud portion 46 square in crosssection for matingly engaging the square opening 36 in the socket member 14. A handle 48 is pivotally connected by a clevis 50 to one end of the stud member 46. Although it is not shown, the stud 46 may be provided with a ball element which is biased transversely outwardly for engagement in an opening in the inner sidewall of the opening 36 to permit releaseable locking of the stud member 46 in the socket member 14.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 3, an end link 18 of the chain is positioned in the slot 46) with the slot sidewall engaging the concave edges 26, of the side elements Ell. The open end of the slot 49 is spot welded to prevent the accidental separation of the chain 12 from the socket member 14.

Depending on the diameter of the object to be turned such as the cylindrical member 52 in FIG. 3, the appropriate link 18 at the free end of the chain 12 may be positioned in the slot 42 in the same manner as the link 18 is positioned in the slot 40. If all of the chain 12 is not required the free end portion may either be coiled within the chamber 34 as shown in FIG. 4 or an appropriate number of the separable links at the free end of the chain may be removed by withdrawal of the cotter pins 32. In FIG. 5, a third alternative is shown for accommodating the unused free end chain. A third slot 56 is formed in the sidewall of the socket member 14 such that the chain 12 may enter the socket member 14 through the slot 42 and extend outwardly thereof through the slot 56. In operation, the chain may be placed around the member to be turned and the appropriate link 18 dropped into the slot 42 in the socket member 14. The chain link 12 may be adjusted such that the serrated sidewall of the socket member 14 bears against the member 52 as shown in FIG. 3 or alternatively bears against the chain as shown in FIG. 4. For instance, it may be desired to protect the outside finish of the member being turned and thus the arrangement in FIG. 4 would be employed; however if additional gripping action should be necessary, the chain and socket member may be placed on the member 52 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Ordinarily, suficient gripping action will be produced by the rotation of the socket member 14 along the chain 12 to turn the ordinary pipe or conduit especially if the outer surface of the pipe is rough or irregularly shaped. Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, as the socket member 14 is turned, the chain ends wrap in the same direction around the socket member.

In FIG. 2 the handle 48 is shown positioned at two alternative positions 180 degrees apart. This capability is possible due to the pivotal connection of the handle member 48 to the stud member 46 and consequently in order to maneuver spaces it is unlikely that there will not be one position in which the handle member 48 can be moved for turning the socket member 14. A perpendicular handle may be provided on the end of the handle member 48 for rotation of the handle member 48 when it is extending axially of the socket member 14 intermediate the positions shown in FIG. 2 by the solid lines and the dash lines representing the handle member 48.

It is to be emphasized that although the link elements 20 are conventional in chains of the type illustrated in the drawings, they lend themselves surprisingly well to eifect a positive engagement with the socket member 14 by the fact that the enlarged end portions 22 of the side elements 20 cannot possibly pull out of the slot 42. However, the chain links 20 may be removed from a slot 42 by simply moving them longitudinally of the slot.

One of the most important uses for the chain wrench is in the removal of automobile oil filters. As shown in FIG. 6, the chain 12 extends around an oil filter 60 and the socket member is engaged by a conventional socket wrench ratchet member 62. In this instance the head 64 of the ratchet member is directly under the socket member and the handle portion 66 is adapted to pivot about a vertical axis extending through the center of the head 64 and along the longitudinal axis of the'socket member. It is apparent that the ratchet handle 66 in operation may be moved back and forth directly under the oil filter 60 and consequently little space in addition to that occupied by the filter is, required for its removal from an automobile.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obvious that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my wrench device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a chain wrench, comprising,

a length of chain having a plurality of links, the links at one end of said chain having at least one enlarged end;

a hollow wheel having a slot formed from one end parallel to its longitudinal axis in its peripheral wall, the width of said slot being less than the enlarged end portions of said links, one of said links having an enlarged end portion releasably secured in said slot with the other end of said chain secured to said wheel in spaced relationship to said one end of said chain, and said links on said one end of said chain extending into the hollow portion of said wheel through said slot with, one of said links having an enlarged end portion engaging the edges of said slot, said chain thus forming a loop to encircle an object to be clamped, said wheel having serrations formed in its outer surface for frictional engagement with the object being clamped;

and a driver means having a pairof elements pivotally connected together, one of said elements releasably engaging said wheel at a point along its longitudinal axis, and the other of said elements adapted to be manually operated for rotating said wheel along said chain with said chain beingwrapped around said wheel and thereby reducing the size of said loop.

2. In a chain wrench, comprising,

a length of chain having a plurality of links, the links at one end of said chain having at least one enlarged end;

a hollow wheel having a slot formed from one end parallel to its longitudinal axis in its peripheral wall, the width of said slot being less than the enlarged and portions of said links, one of said links having an enlarged end portion releasably secured in said slot with the other end of said chain secured to said wheel in spaced relationship to said one end of said chain, and said links on said one end of said chain extending into the hollow portion of said wheel through said slot with one of said links having an enlarged end portion engaging the edges of said slot, said chain thus forming a loop to encircle an object to be clamped;

and a driver means releasably engaging said wheel at a point along its longitudinal axis, and adapted to be manually operated for, rotating said wheel along said chain with said chain being wrapped around said wheel and thereby reducing the size of said loop.

3. The structure of claim 2 and said peripheral wall of said wheel has a second slot formed therein spaced from said slot, said links on said one end of said chain adapted to extend through said second slot from the inside of said hollow wheel to the outside thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,174,764 3/1916 Riesenberg 81-68 2,380,781 7/1945 Osborne 25478 2,825,253 3/1958 Brenner 8168 3,007,357 11/1961 Nalley 8l-3.4 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 22,346 1908 Great Britain;

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. JONES, IR., Examiner. 

2. IN A CHAIN WRENCH, COMPRISING, A LENGTH OF CHAIN HAVING A PLURALITY OF LINKS, THE LINKS AT ONE END OF SAID CHAIN HAVING AT LEAST ONE ENLARGED END; A HOLLOW WHEEL HAVING A SLOT FORMED FROM ONE END PARALLEL TO ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS IN ITS PERIPHERAL WALL, THE WIDTH OF SAID SLOT BEING LESS THAN THE ENLARGED END PORTIONS OF SAID LINKS, ONE OF SAID LINKS HAVING AN ENLARGED END PORTION RELEASABLY SECURED IN SAID SLOT WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID CHAIN SECURED TO SAID WHEEL IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID ONE END OF SAID CHAIN, AND SAID LINKS ON SAID ONE END OF SAID CHAIN EXTENDING INTO THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID WHEEL THROUGH SAID SLOT WITH ONE OF SAID LINKS HAVING AN ENLARGED END PORTION ENGAGING THE EDGES OF SAID SLOT, SAID CHAIN THUS FORMING A LOOP TO ENCIRCLE AN OBJECT TO CLAMPED; AND A DRIVER MEANS RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID WHEEL AT A POINT ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY OPERATED FOR ROTATING SAID WHEEL ALONG SAID CHAIN WITH SAID CHAIN BEING WRAPPED AROUND SAID WHEEL AND THEREBY REDUCING THE SIZE OF SAID LOOP. 